Examination paper test score system

ABSTRACT

The Examination Paper Test Score System provides for registry of a multiple column test answer sheet containing multiple-choice answer blocks with a light permeable predetermined pattern representing answer response positions. A test bed transports the registered master answer-aperture plate and test sheet past a scan line of photo detector devices which register the student&#39;&#39;s score as the number of light transmissive areas contained in each row and each row consisting of a plurality of blocks from adjacent columns is read by scanning at a sensor row as the aligned sheets pass thereacross. The apertures in the test sheet and the master answer-aperture plate are related to provide a constant transmission aperture area with a substantial misalignment tolerance.

United States Patent 1 Georges [451 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] EXAMINATION PAPERTEST SCORE SYSTEM [76] Inventor: Michael P. Georges, 1?.O. Box 800,

Norwood, Mass. 02062 22 Filed: June 18, 1970 211 Appl.No.:47,264

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-J H. WolffAttorney-Chittick, Pfund, Birch, Samuels & Gauthier ABSTRACT TheExamination Paper Test Score System provides for registry of a multiplecolumn test answer sheet containing multiple-choice answer blocks with alight permeable predetermined pattern representing answer responsepositions. A test bed transports the registered master answer-apertureplate and test sheet past a scan line of photo detector devices whichregister the students score as the number of light transmissive areascontained in each row and each row consisting of a plurality of blocksfrom adjacent columns is read by scanning at a sensor row as the alignedsheets pass thereacross." The apertures in the test sheet and the masteranswer-aperture plate are related to provide a constant transmissionaperture area with a substantial misalignment tolerance.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHARZYIQB 3 722,111

SHEET 10F 4 INVENTOR.

MICHAEL R GEORGES BY W"? YQOQMW M114 ATTORNEYS PATENTEUMARNIQB 3 7 2,111

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INVENTOR.

MICHAELR GEORGES WTH,

ATTORNEYS SHEET 3 [IF 4 PATENTEUHARZTISYS INVENTOR.

MICHAEL P. GEORGES ATTORNEYS EXAMINATION PAPER TEST SCORE SYSTEMBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electronicexamination paper test scoring devices of the type wherein theexamination is multiple-choice type and the test score is obtained bycomparing the pattern of multiple-choice answers selected and placed bythe student onto a test answer sheet with the correct answer patterncontained in a master answer device. Devices for grading papers based onthis general arrangement are well known and range from the largeautomatic machines for grading large numbers of examination papers athigh speed, such as the device described in US. Pat. No. 3,050,248, tovarious smaller machines adapted for use in the individual classroomwherein the examination papers are manually fed through the gradingstation.

The present invention relates to the smaller type machine thatpreferably uses conventional 8 k X 11 inch size test answer sheets andis adapted for use in the individual classroom or in a central office ofa smaller school with the operation being convenient mechanically andyet rapid and reliable so as to permit the individual teachers to gradethe papers for a days examination of all his students in a very briefperiod of time, while at the same time providing economy and reliabilitywhich is necessary to encourage the widespread adoption of such a devicein smaller school entities. At the same time the invention provides forthe use of marks that are reasonably small in size and which have adesired shape of being relatively long and narrow for easy applicationby the student and also a high density examination paper permitting alarge number of examination questions to be answered on a single sheetwith a full format of five multiple choice answer response positions foreach question. The answer mark to be placed on the test answer sheet isto be opaque to transmitted light and can be applied conveniently with aconventional writing instrument such as a No. 2 pencil. High densitymarkings are possible in the examination paper because: (1) In thehorizontal direction the simplicity and economy of the electroniccircuits makes it economically feasible to have a full complement offour columns of response position groups photodetector positions) acrossthe examination paper.

(2) In both the vertical and horizontal directions the total orcooperating masking technique used between holes and hole locationseffectively reduces light interference or leakage between adjacentresponse positions and also in relation to the scanning control photodetector.

In the preferred form the examination paper and the scoring sensors arelaid out in strictly rectilinear fashion so that there is no unusualconfiguration of the sheet as far as offsetting columns of answers or ofthe detectors for the various columns thereby eliminating the necessityfor an abnormal marking pattern as is the case where staggered rows ofanswer columns are used. Further, the preferred form uses a set of photodetector devices having a latching characteristic and is employed sothat plural columns of questions containing multiple answers in each roware detected simultaneously as the row passes beneath the sensor row andby means of an electronic scan the incorrect and omitted answers areread from the scanned row during the interval when the next row ofanswers is moving to the sensor position. The speed of operation of thedevice is such that a simple in and out movement of the answer sheetpast the sensor row accomplishes a complete page scan and answertotalizing thereby giving the teacher the results of an individual paperwith extreme speed and simplicity of operation.

The examination paper or test answer sheet fill-inblocks give a betterdefined area for the student to place his response mark. He is ablereadily to determine when he has properly completed the marking task.This makes for greater machine reliability in reading the student marksor responses. Also the isolated individual answer or response blocks onthe test sheet and the isolated four columns of these answer blocksallow the student quicker and more accurate test answer responseposition placement and quicker and more accurate answer number locatingthan on test sheets where distinct groupings or contrast isolation isnot present. Thus the mechanics of taking a multiplechoice test will beless tiring and the responding to the answers can be done faster andwith fewer errors than those that are made due to losing ones place.

The object of the invention therefore is to provide a high densityexamination paper using small response marks and that is easy andconvenient for the student to use, which is graded in a grading machinewhich accommodates the same thereby providing a multiplechoiceexamination paper grading system which permits more examinationquestions to be answered in a conventional size, for example, 8 /2 X llinch test paper than has heretofore been possible in a small low costsystem. The optics of the apertures in the system are so arranged thatextremely high accuracy of grading is obtained with a considerabletolerance latitude permitted in the physical alignment of the parts.Thus the unit is well adapted for use by the everyday teacher at the endof the class period who can operate the device with confidence althoughthey do not possess any particular skill in aligning and feeding theexamination papers through the device.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferredarrangement of the paper grading machine with an examination paper and apermanent master answer-aperture plate shown in place for operation.

FIG. 2 is a view along the same lines as FIG. 1, with cover removed toshow various internal features of the device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of examination paper with a permanent masteranswer-aperture plate shown in design center line relation to the sensorrow of the grading machine.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the design center relation of theapertures in the aperture plate and examination paper sheet.

FIG. 5 is another preferred form of answer device comprising an apertureplate with a full aperture array and a light transmissive overlay sheetportions of which have been rendered opaque.

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram partly in block form of the circuitof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention comprises ahousing 11 having a front panel 12, upon which a numerical indicator 13is supported. The indicator 13 provides a readout of the test score andmay conveniently consist of a window through which numerals of a pair ofelectronic indicator tubes appear. Also mounted on the panel are on-offswitch 14 and pilot light 15.

The front panel contains a sliding support bed or carriage 16 which ismounted on a conventional drawer extension slide assembly 17 so as topermit the support bed 16 to be fully extended as shown to receive anexamination paper or test answer sheet 18 thereon. The examination paperis positioned by a series of pins 19 and a paper stop in the form of anelongated slotted bar 21. The examination paper 18 rests upon and issupported by a rigid master answer-aperture plate 22. Theanswer-aperture plate 22 is mounted on the support bed frame 16 andaligned properly within the positioning boundaries 19 and 21 on thesupport bed frame 16 and is opaque except for the apertures 49 and 47.Alternatively, a transparent support plate could be used covered by anopaque surface with the appropriate aperture pattern. Thus with theanswer-aperture plate 22 aligned with and the examination paper 18 inplace between the positioning posts 19 and the edge of the paperpositioning bar 21 assures that the aperture plate 22 and examinationpaper 18 are in appropriate registry in relation to the design centersand as will hereinafter appear provides sufficiently accurateregistration to assure uniform light detection properties during thesensing operation.

The support bed 16 is capable of being slid into the housing 11 on theextension slide assembly 17 by holding the handle 23 and the procedurefor grading a paper is to place the examination paper 18 onansweraperture plate 22 as shown in FIG. 1, pushing the support bed orcarriage 16 completely into the housing 11, and withdrawing it again tothe position shown in FIG. 1. In doing this operation the examinationpaper is graded and the correct test score appears at the indicatorwindow 13. During the scanning of the examination paper in order tomaintain optical uniformity and to prevent light leakage around theexamination paper apertures the examination paper 18 must be kept flatand in reasonable contact with the aperture plate 22 in the vicinity ofthe photo sensing area. As the sliding motion of the support bed 16takes place a series of lightweight Teflon rods 24 which are looselysupported in vertical holes in a bar act as weights to hold theexamination paper 18 substantially flat against the top surface of theanswer-aperture plate 22 at the photo sensing area without undulyweighting the paper or having any tendency to bind, buckle or otherwisedistort the thin light transmissive sheet on which the examination paper18 is printed.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the interior construction details are shownwhich include a second bar 25 having a series of vertical holes thereinin which are loosely mounted a second series of light Teflon rods 26fitted to act as a paper flattener in sliding contact with the surfaceof the examination paper 18. On the front surface of the bar 25 aremounted a plurality of lamps 27 which project a beam downwardly, theaxis of which is aligned with the reception aperture of photo detectordevices 28 and 48. The actual light transmission between the lamps 27and the photo detector devices 28 and 48 is through a rectangularaperture 29 in a bar 31 which covers the photo detectors 28 and 48throughout its length. This rectangular aperture cooperates with thepredetermined shape of the apertures in examination paper 18 andaperture plate 22 to eliminate excessive light leakage between adjacentapertures in both the horizontal and vertical directions. To aid ineliminating this misdirected light leakage the top surface of the bar 31which covers the photo detectors 28 and 48 and contains apertures 29 isplaced as close as reasonable manufacturing tolerances permit to thebottom surface of the aperture plate 22. This technique masks off givenareas and thereby cuts down on the light acceptance area and the lightacceptance angle to the photo detector devices 28 and 48. In the viewshown in FIG. 2 the bar 31 is broken away at the left hand end todisclose the general position of the photo detector devices 28. It willbe noted in FIG. 2 that the paper flattening rods 26 are aligned in arow parallel and to the rear of the row of lamps 27 and by referringback to FIG. 1 it will be recognized that the row of paper flatteningrods 24 is aligned on the front of the row of lamps 27. Thus the alignedlamps 27 and photo detectors 28 constitute a sensor row which is flankedon both sides by the rows of paper flattening rods 24 and 26 therebyholding the examination paper in close contact with the aperture plate22 at the photo sensing area during the transit of the alignedexamination paper and answer-aperture plate between the row of lamps 27and the row of rectangular apertures 29.

The paper stop bar 21 is provided with a downwardly sloping edge 32which acts to quickly lead into position and to keep the forward edge ofthe examination paper down in contact with the answer-aperture plate 22along the paper stop bar edge. Other configurations for holding down theforward edge of the examination paper may be used such as clips or, asillustrated in FIG. 1, a long horizontal slot 34 in the paper stop bar21. The bar 21 is also provided with a plurality of sloping slots 30which are positioned in alignment with the rods 24 and 26. The lowerends of the rods 24 and 26 have rounded ends thereby providing a camaction when engaged with the bottom surface of the slots 30 to lift therods out of the way as the paper stop bar 21 slides underneath the bars20 and 25 in which the rods are slidably mounted. When the support bed16 is fully extended outside the housing 11 the rods 24 and 26 rest onthe paper stop bar 21 out of the way of an examination paper 18 that isto be inserted for scoring and later removed. In order to record a scorethe examination paper 18 is inserted onto the support bed 16, thesupport bed 16 and examination paper 18 are pushed into the housing 11to the closed and fully retracted position and then pulled out of thehousing 11 into the fully extended position. As the examination paper 18is pushed inward the rods 24 and 26 come down onto the paper toaccomplish their flattening action and later retract out of the way asthe examination paper is pulled out of the housing 11 for removal. Asthe examination paper 18 goes inward its leading edge is held down bythe downwardly sloping edge 32 or by other means for accomplishing thesame task so that the lower rounded ends of rods 24 and 26 can enterover the examination paper leading edge without hitting it. Qther meansof lowering the rods 24 and 26 onto the examination paper 18 withouthitting against the examination paper leading edge and later liftingthese same rods 24 and 26 off the examination paper 18 and out of theway may be used. Except for controlled exposing to light throughapertures, the photo detector devices 28 and 48 must be kept coveredfrom the lamps 27. The paper stopbar 21 acts in a light shieldingfunction as an extension of the aperture plate 22 and keeps lightemitting from the lamps 27 from projecting onto the photo detectordevices 28 and 48 when the support bed 16 is fully extended out of thehousing 111. At the end of the inward travel of the slides 17 thesupport bed 16 contacts a microswitch actuator 33 which provides a clearor reset signal to the electronic visual display devices which appear atthe window 13. Thus the operation of the photo detector devices 28during the inward travel of the support bed 16 is cleared and theexamination paper is graded during the withdrawal of the support bed 16thereby giving the final answer readout when the examination paper isonce again in the position shown in FIG. 1 and ready to be removed fromthe answer-aperture plate 22 by the teacher.

Referring now to FIG. 3 the aligned design center relation of theexamination paper 18, master answeraperture plate 22 and the bar 31containing apertures 29 is shown. The examination paper 18 illustratedis of one embodiment and consists of a conventional 8 9% X 11 inch sizedocument that contains 25 straight and evenly spaced horizontal rows ofanswer response position blocks 45 that are arranged in four equallyspaced vertical columns 41, 42, 43 and 44. This arrangement of theexamination paper 18 gives one hundred answer response position blocks45 each of which contains five equally spaced light transmissiverectangular openings 46. The light transmissive opening 46 is the actualanswer response position to be filled in by a student with an opaquemark made with a conventional writing instrument. The center portion ofthe test sheet 118 is unobstructed and light transmissive midway betweenthe horizontal rows of blocks 45. Light transmitted through theunobstructed portion of the test sheet and its corresponding underlyingrectangular aperture 47 on the aperture plate 22 is used to developpulses which read the horizontal rows of information as the sheet ispassed under the sensor row containing photo detectors 28. For thispurpose a centrally located photo detector 48 is provided although othermeans for obtaining these pulses may be used. One advantage of thisoverlay arrangement of examination paper 18 and aperture plate 22 isthat other than the areas that are intended to become exposed to thephoto sensors during the document mark sensing operation, theexamination paper 118 is immune to stray or extraneous student markingsthat on a reflective light reading system could cause wrong readings.

As indicated in FIG. 3 by the broken away portion of the examinationpage 18, the master answer-aperture plate 22 comprises a predeterminedpattern of approximately or relatively square apertures 49 whichrepresent the correct answers of the examination. Rectangular apertures46 are normally positioned (i.e., design center positions) central withrespect to the approximately square apertures 49 in a manner illustratedin FIG. 4 where the width dimensions of the slot 46 indicated at 51extend beyond the corresponding edges of the approximately squareaperture 49 by an amount of overlap on each side that is substantiallyequal to or greater than the expected maximum possible overallmisalignment from the design center position and wherein the upper andlower edges 52 of aperture 49 extends above and below the correspondingtop and bottom edges 50 of the rectangular apertures 46 by an amount ofoverlap on the top and on the bottom that is substantially equal to orgreater than the expected maximum possible overall misalignment from thedesign center position. This overlay arrangement of apertures willpermit the use of response marks on the test answer sheet 18 that arereasonably small in size and which have a preferred shape that isrelatively long and nar row. Also with this alignment of dissimilarapertures considerable movement of rectangular aperture 46 in both thehorizontal and vertical direction with respect to approximately squareaperture 49 is possible without changing the size or positionalalignment of the resultant light transmissive area of the alignedapertures. Thus a small response mark is used and the light energyreaching the photo detectors 28 is not influenced by misalignment due tomanufacturing and printing tolerance variations as the teacher insertsthe individual examination paper for grading.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate form of master examination answer devicecomprising a rigid aperture plate 53 having therein a full array ofapproximately square holes 49' one for each position of thecorresponding holes 46 in the examination paper. The light pulsegenerator holes 47' are also centrally located on the aperture plate 53.Over this aperture plate a clear Mylar or other transparent ortranslucent sheet 54 is laid and the instructor prepares the sheet 54 byrendering opaque certain portions 55 representing the four incorrectchoices of a five-part multiple-choice answer. In this fashion the rigidplate 53 with a full array of apertures 49' is converted into apredetermined pattern of light transmissive apertures 56 made up bypreparing light blocking portions 55 on the light transmissive sheetoverlay 54. With this arrangement the teacher can prepare differentanswer locations for an examination or prepare an examination withoutregard to the location of the correct answer response position andprepare the overlay sheet 54 accordingly.

Referring now to FIG. 6 the electronic grading circuit of the inventionwill be described. in the circuit of FIG. 6 the photo detectors 28 arearranged in groups of five and there are four such groups 61, 62, 63 and64 corresponding to the four columns 41, 42, 43 and 44 of the answersheet. In the group 61 the two end photo detectors 28 are shown with theintermediate three indicated by dotted circles. The photo detectors usedare preferably light responsive silicon controlled rectifiers or photoSCRs which have their cathodes connected through a resistor to a -12volt supply and with the anodes of all five SCRs 28 in the groupconnected in parallel to a lead 65. The SCRs 28 each have their signalcontrol electrodes connected to a rheostat 66 and are maintained at acutoff bias level by means of rheostat adjustment 66. An additionalphoto SCR 48 which is a light activated relaxation pulse generator isprovided to generate sequential signals to control the reset and ensuinglogic functions of photo SCRs 28. Bias current to the signal controlelectrode of the pulse generator SCR 48 controls the light thresholdlevel for triggering and is adjusted by a rheostat 60. The pulse outputon line 82 occurs for each light exposure of SCR 48. One advantage ofthe photo SCR is that it can directly handle the load current andtherefore can perform the dual role of light sensing and load actuating.This eliminates the need for intermediate circuits and results insimplification of the overall circuitry.

Essentially the operation of the photo detector 28 requires the presenceof anode-cathode voltage and the reception of a light signal sufficientto trigger the device conductive at the threshold level set for thecontrol electrode by biase circuit 66. Once triggered on the SCR 28conducts and remains conducting even when the light signal is removeduntil the voltage supply across the cathode-anode path is reduced toapproximately zero or reverse voltage. The SCRs remain reset in theabsence of light when the anode voltage is restored. This constitutesthe reset function which is accomplished by a signal on line 65 for anyof the SCRs 28 which are conducting and the signal on line 65 occurs assubsequently explained. When reset occurs a pulse signal appears onoutput line 68 for each of the SCRs 28 which is reset, and the line 68is OR gated to a signal input line 69 which drives the two decadecounter 71. Counter 71 is provided with reset circuit 72 operated by thecarriage (IQ-operated reset switch 33.

The operation of the circuit 61, 62, 63 and 64 will thus be clearlyunderstood to provide for switching to conduction SCRs 28 for anycorresponding light transmitting apertures appearing in the registeredexamination paper 18 and answer-aperture plate 22 after the support bed16 has passed the sensing row made up of lamps 27 and SCRs 28. Thenumber of such conducting SCRs 28 in each row is recorded as the supportbed 16 moves to a position to trigger the SCR 48 by light passingthrough the apertures 47 to generate a sequential set of signals onlines 65. These sequential signals effectively reduce the anode-cathodevoltage across the SCRs 28 to zero or reverse voltage by circuit 67thereby resetting any SCRs which are conducting and supplying the totalnumber of such reset SCR signals to be accumulated in the counter 71.

The signals supplied on line 65 are derived as follows. Each line 65 isthe output from one side of a set of flip flops 73, 74, 75 and 76 whichare connected as a shift register responsive to a clock signal on line77 and a signal derived from the preceding stage with flip flop 73driven by flip flop 78. The flip flop 78 is set by the pulse on line 79from a Schmitt trigger 81. The input signal from the Schmitt trigger 81is a pulse on line 82 which is derived or generated from the SCR 48which reads the centrally located rectangular hole light signals fromapertures 47. The clock signal on line 77 is derived from a free runningmultivibrator 83 which operates at a suitable clock frequency such as20,000 cycles per second.

The operation of the circuit of FIG. 6 when an examination paper isbeing graded and the accumulated score indicated is as follows. Theclock oscillator 83 provides a square wave signal on line 77 which isapplied to all of the flip flops 73-76 and 78. Whenever a rectangularpulse generator aperture 47 passes over the central SCR 48 the lightreaching SCR 48 renders it temporarily conductive thereby generating apulse on line 82 which is shaped in the Schmitt trigger 81 to produce asignal on line 79 which sets flip flop 78. On the next succeeding clocksignal on line 77 an output on line 84 sets flip flop 73 therebyproducing a signal on line 65 which resets the SCR 28 in the group 61 toaccumulate a count to the decade counter 71 if any of these SCRs 28 hadbeen rendered conductive by a light signal passing to the SCRs throughthe aligned apertures from a row of holes 46 on the examination paper.If the examination paper has been correctly marked for the fourquestions represented by a particular row no light signals will reachthe SCRs 28 in any of the groups 61, 62, 63 or 64 and no count will bepassed to the decade counter 71. For any incorrect or omitted answer oneof the SCRs 28 in one of the four groups will be energized and as manysuch incorrect or unused answers as exist in a given row will besequentially reflected as counts on line 69 and accumulated in theregister 71. With the next clock pulse on line 77 the flip flop 73 isreset and the enabled condition of the flip flop 73 permits that sameclock pulse to set the flip flop 74. Thus the sequence has proceeded toread the SCR 28 in the group 62 to accumulate the number of incorrectand unused answers to the counter 71. The sequence proceeds on the nexttwo subsequent clock pulses on line 77 to set and reset the flip flops75 and 76 in turn thereby accumulating sequentially all of the incorrectand unused answers in a row as represented by conducting SCRs 28 in thefour groups of five flip flops each in the sensor row of the machine.This process is repeated row by row as light repeatedly reaches andenergizes the pulse generating photo SCR 48 through the centralrectangular apertures 47. Thus for each row the light energized pulsegenerating photo SCR 48 produces a trigger pulse on line 79 which willset flip flop 78 to actuate the scanning and resetting of the photodetector SCRs 28 and thereby placing any resulting accumulating total inthe counting register 71.

As will be apparent the accumulation in register 71 is of the number ofincorrect and unused answers and accordingly to represent theexamination paper score for questions the count that is accumulated willbe the complement of 100, i.e., a substractive count of the incorrectand omitted answers from 100 will produce an indication on the frontpanel indicator 13 of the correct score as the number of questionsanswered correctly. Also when less than 100 questions are used theunused answers are disregarded from the total count.

The extremely simple arrangement for examination grading shown provideshigh reliability and accuracy with the line by line photo sensing of aplurality of answers in the columns of the examination paper where eachlight transmission aperture is permitted to sense the necessary lightsignal from the lamps 27 as the row of combined photo detector apertures46 and 49 passes the sensor row. As the combined apertures 46 and 49pass over the sensor row each individual photo SCR 28 will await thenecessary light level required to trigger and latch it on as set by thethreshold adjustment rheostat 66 without regard to any specialalignment, timing or occurence sequence. The row count is nowtemporarily stored in the photo SCRs 28 and will be accumulated into thecounting register 71 during the photo SCR scanning and resetting cycle.This scanning and resetting cycle occurs by means of rectangularapertures 47 which in the vertical direction are positionedapproximately midway between successive horizontal rows of approximatelysquare apertures 49. This midway position of the rectangular apertures47 in relation to the horizontal rows of approximately square apertures48 makes sure that photo SCRs 28 are in a dark area during the scanningand resetting cycle and do not have sufficient light above thresholdstriking them to interfere with proper reset. Therefore reset will takeplace. That is to say that after the row of answers has been detectedand temporarily stored in a photo SCR 28 by rendering one of each groupof five photo SCRs 28 conductive, the scanning provided by the shiftregister flip flops 73-76 sequentially reads the score for a particularrow while simultaneously resetting the photo SCRs and registers theresult. This method of obtaining a signal generated by the photodetectors as they independently reach light threshold and temporarilystoring this signal after each row is sensed before further processingthis signal eliminates timing and alignment problems and permits the useof simplified and relatively slow electronic logic throughout the entiresystem.

Thus the optical effects of misalignment of the apertures is minimizedby the geometry of the light transmissive apertures 46 and 49 whilemaintaining a small response mark of a preferred relatively long andnarrow shape and pulse synchronization is not a problem because thetraverse of the examination paper page row-by-row stores the answerinformation for each row prior to and until its readout thereby assuringa systematic accumulation of the total. Also, the speed of the clockpulses on line 77 can be relatively slow and yet assure a complete scanand reset of the four columns during the darkness interval while passingfrom one row to the next row during a normal manual traverse at the rateat which the support bed 16 is manually withdrawn from the device bypulling on handle 23. Thus a large number of papers can be graded by anindividual teacher with relatively simple equipment and with completereliability as to the result.

Although test answer sheet scanning by manually moving the slide hasbeen disclosed this motion can be motorized or otherwise donemechanically. Also, although a visual readout of the test score onelectronic indicator tubes mounted on the front panel has been disclosedother means of presenting the text score may be used such as permanentprinting on the test sheet or printing on an auxiliary tape of anoff-line printer. Other modifications can be made by those skilled inthe art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

lclaim:

1. ln photo-transmissive electronic machine scoring of multiple-choicetype examination papers, the combination comprising: a lighttransmissive type test answer response sheet and an aperture devicehaving a. a test answer response sheet having thereon in regular row andcolumn array a plurality of rows of multiple-choice answer responseblocks and at least one column of said multiple-choice answer responseblocks, each said answer response block comprising of an opaquerectangle containing therein a plurality of spaced and alignedrectangular light transmissive areas which can be rendered opaque by amark applied by a student; and an aperture device to be used with thetest answer response sheet during scoring comprised of an opaque surfacewith a pattern of rectangular light transmissive areas that are adaptedto register and cooperate with correspondingly located said lighttransmissive areas of said test answer response sheet; with eachrectangular light transmissive area of said test answer response sheetand each rectangular light transmissive area of said aperture devicebeing defined at their design center positions when used together in thescoring machine such that each rectangular light transmissive area ofthe said test answer response sheet having a width "greater than thewidth of the correspondingly located rectangular light transmissive areaof the said aperture device in one coordinate dimension by an amount ofoverlap on each side that is substantially equal to or greater than theexpected maximum possible overall misalignment from the said designcenter position during actual use and a width less than the width of thecorrespondingly located rectangular light transmissive area of the saidaperture device in the orthogonal coordinate dimension by an amount ofoverlap on each side that is substantially equal to or greater than theexpected maximum possible overall misalignment from the said designcenter position during actual use to provide relatively large andconstant area resultant apertures that are substantially without size orpositional alignment errors due to manufacturing tolerance accumulationand assembly misalignment and permits closer adjacent apertures spacingby minimizing light energy interference to each photo-detector fromadjacent aperture positions; and

means including light energy source means and photo-detector means forreading the test score from said test answer response sheet in responseto light energy transmitted from said light energy source means throughsaid resultant apertures of the aligned said test answer response sheetand said aperture device to said photo-detector means.

2. A test answer response sheet reading system according to claim 1 andincluding:

a. means for bringing said test answer response sheet into registry withsaid aperture device to form a registered assembly;

b. a row of photo-detection devices positioned respectively according tothe row spacing of said light transmissive areas of said test answerresponse sheet;

c. means for providing relative motion between said registered assemblyand said row of photo-detection devices so as to move the saidregistered assembly of answer response aperture rows successively pastsaid row of photo-detection devices;

. means for keeping said test answer response sheet substantially incontact with the surface of said aperture device in the vicinity of saidrow of photo-detection devices;

e. means for programming correct answers into the test scoring machine.

f. electronic circuitry including said photo-detector devices forreading each said answer response aperture row during said relativemotion and registering and totalizing said readings; and

g. means for indicating a total test score.

3. A System according to claim 2 and including provision for minimizingunwanted light energy from adjacent answer response positions fromentering into each photo-detector device comprising:

a. means for masking the window area of each said photo-detector deviceso as to restrict the direction of light energy entering into eachphotodetector device; and

b. means for maintaining the outer surface of said photo-detectormasking in close proximity to the adjacent surface of said aperturedevice.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said means for masking thewindow area of each said photodetector device forms masking apertureswith straight leading and trailing edges to narrow the window area ofeach said photo-detector device and cooperate with the correspondingleading and trailing edges of the test answer response sheet to reducelight energy interference to said photo-detector devices from adjacentaperture positions during said relative motion and thus permit closerspacing of said aperture positions in the direction of motion.

5. A system according to claim 2 in which the means for keeping saidtest answer response sheet substantially in contact with the surface ofthe aperture device in the vicinity of the said photo-detection devicesas said registered assembly moves past the photo-detection devicescomprises:

a. vertical positioned rods having a surface of low coefficient offriction that rests on the surface of said answer response sheet, saidrods acting as weights that press said answer response sheet againstsaid aperture device;

. means for holding said rods horizontally stationery but verticallymovable in a sliding up and down movement; and

c. means for moving said vertical rods on and off said test answersheet.

6. A system according to claim 2 in which said photodetectors areresettable latching photo-detectors which are reset to the off-statewhile in darkness below light energy threshold and while still indarkness below light energy threshold are electrically conditioned foreach to subsequently trigger to the on-state when each individual saidresettable latching photo-detector independently reaches light energythreshold without regard to special alignment, timing or occurrencesequence as sufficient light energy reaches each individual saidresettable latching photo-detectors through said resultant apertures ofthe said registered assembly of said test answer response sheet and saidaperture device during the said relative motion of said registeredassembly past said row of photo-detection devices thereby detecting andtemporarily storing the reading of each said answer response aperturerow until the said photo-detectors which have been rendered conductiveare again reset to the off state during the scanning ofeach said testanswer response sheet.

7. A system according to claim 6 and including: a. means for producingan electronic control pulse signal that is generated after each row ofsaid test answer response sheet is sensed and prior to sensing of thenext approaching said row; and b. means controlled by said generatedpulse signal for accumulating the reading registered from each said rowof said test answer response sheet and resetting said photo-detectors.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said means for programmingcorrect answers into the test scoring machine is a clear or translucentsheet marked with opaque areas corresponding to incorrect answerresponse positions on said answer response sheet and adapted to be usedwith said test answer response sheet and said aperture device during thetest scoring machine operation to register and cooperate with saidresultant apertures of said test answer response sheet and said aperturedevice to retard light energy transmission at said incorrect answerresponse positions.

9. A system according to claim 1 in which said aperture device is anopaque plate with holes providing said pattern of light transmissiveareas.

10. A system according to claim 9 in which said holes of said opaqueplate are approximately square in shape.

1. In photo-transmissive electronic machine scoring of multiplechoicetype examination papers, the combination comprising: a lighttransmissive type test answer response sheet and an aperture devicehaving a. a test answer response sheet having thereon in regular row andcolumn array a plurality of rows of multiple-choice answer responseblocks and at least one column of said multiple-choice answer responseblocks, each said answer response block comprising of an opaquerectangle containing therein a plurality of spaced and alignedrectangular light transmissive areas which can be rendered opaque by Amark applied by a student; and b. an aperture device to be used with thetest answer response sheet during scoring comprised of an opaque surfacewith a pattern of rectangular light transmissive areas that are adaptedto register and cooperate with correspondingly located said lighttransmissive areas of said test answer response sheet; with eachrectangular light transmissive area of said test answer response sheetand each rectangular light transmissive area of said aperture devicebeing defined at their design center positions when used together in thescoring machine such that each rectangular light transmissive area ofthe said test answer response sheet having a width greater than thewidth of the correspondingly located rectangular light transmissive areaof the said aperture device in one coordinate dimension by an amount ofoverlap on each side that is substantially equal to or greater than theexpected maximum possible overall misalignment from the said designcenter position during actual use and a width less than the width of thecorrespondingly located rectangular light transmissive area of the saidaperture device in the orthogonal coordinate dimension by an amount ofoverlap on each side that is substantially equal to or greater than theexpected maximum possible overall misalignment from the said designcenter position during actual use to provide relatively large andconstant area resultant apertures that are substantially without size orpositional alignment errors due to manufacturing tolerance accumulationand assembly misalignment and permits closer adjacent apertures spacingby minimizing light energy interference to each photo-detector fromadjacent aperture positions; and means including light energy sourcemeans and photo-detector means for reading the test score from said testanswer response sheet in response to light energy transmitted from saidlight energy source means through said resultant apertures of thealigned said test answer response sheet and said aperture device to saidphoto-detector means.
 2. A test answer response sheet reading systemaccording to claim 1 and including: a. means for bringing said testanswer response sheet into registry with said aperture device to form aregistered assembly; b. a row of photo-detection devices positionedrespectively according to the row spacing of said light transmissiveareas of said test answer response sheet; c. means for providingrelative motion between said registered assembly and said row ofphoto-detection devices so as to move the said registered assembly ofanswer response aperture rows successively past said row ofphoto-detection devices; d. means for keeping said test answer responsesheet substantially in contact with the surface of said aperture devicein the vicinity of said row of photo-detection devices; e. means forprogramming correct answers into the test scoring machine. f. electroniccircuitry including said photo-detector devices for reading each saidanswer response aperture row during said relative motion and registeringand totalizing said readings; and g. means for indicating a total testscore.
 3. A System according to claim 2 and including provision forminimizing unwanted light energy from adjacent answer response positionsfrom entering into each photo-detector device comprising: a. means formasking the window area of each said photo-detector device so as torestrict the direction of light energy entering into each photo-detectordevice; and b. means for maintaining the outer surface of saidphoto-detector masking in close proximity to the adjacent surface ofsaid aperture device.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which saidmeans for masking the window area of each said photo-detector deviceforms masking apertures with straight leading and trailing edges tonarrow the window area of each said photo-detector device and cooperatewith the corresponding leading and trailing edges of the test answerresponse sheet to reduce light energy interference to saidphoto-detector devices from adjacent aperture positions during saidrelative motion and thus permit closer spacing of said aperturepositions in the direction of motion.
 5. A system according to claim 2in which the means for keeping said test answer response sheetsubstantially in contact with the surface of the aperture device in thevicinity of the said photo-detection devices as said registered assemblymoves past the photo-detection devices comprises: a. vertical positionedrods having a surface of low coefficient of friction that rests on thesurface of said answer response sheet, said rods acting as weights thatpress said answer response sheet against said aperture device; b. meansfor holding said rods horizontally stationery but vertically movable ina sliding up and down movement; and c. means for moving said verticalrods on and off said test answer sheet.
 6. A system according to claim 2in which said photo-detectors are resettable latching photo-detectorswhich are reset to the off-state while in darkness below light energythreshold and while still in darkness below light energy threshold areelectrically conditioned for each to subsequently trigger to theon-state when each individual said resettable latching photo-detectorindependently reaches light energy threshold without regard to specialalignment, timing or occurrence sequence as sufficient light energyreaches each individual said resettable latching photo-detectors throughsaid resultant apertures of the said registered assembly of said testanswer response sheet and said aperture device during the said relativemotion of said registered assembly past said row of photo-detectiondevices thereby detecting and temporarily storing the reading of eachsaid answer response aperture row until the said photo-detectors whichhave been rendered conductive are again reset to the off-state duringthe scanning of each said test answer response sheet.
 7. A systemaccording to claim 6 and including: a. means for producing an electroniccontrol pulse signal that is generated after each row of said testanswer response sheet is sensed and prior to sensing of the nextapproaching said row; and b. means controlled by said generated pulsesignal for accumulating the reading registered from each said row ofsaid test answer response sheet and resetting said photo-detectors. 8.Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said means for programmingcorrect answers into the test scoring machine is a clear or translucentsheet marked with opaque areas corresponding to incorrect answerresponse positions on said answer response sheet and adapted to be usedwith said test answer response sheet and said aperture device during thetest scoring machine operation to register and cooperate with saidresultant apertures of said test answer response sheet and said aperturedevice to retard light energy transmission at said incorrect answerresponse positions.
 9. A system according to claim 1 in which saidaperture device is an opaque plate with holes providing said pattern oflight transmissive areas.
 10. A system according to claim 9 in whichsaid holes of said opaque plate are approximately square in shape.